Aiken man in custody for strong-armed robbery

An Aiken man is in custody for strong-armed robbery following an incident at Taylor Automotive in Graniteville on Tuesday.

Darren Taylor of Taylor Automotive told law enforcement that the subject, Michael Jerome Lewis Jr., walked into the business at 3 p.m. and asked to use the telephone, according to an Aiken County Sheriff's Office report. Lewis then sat down and Taylor went to the business' front parking lot to work on a vehicle.

Lewis continued to "hang around by the cash register" in the front office and, after an hour, Taylor entered the office and observed the Lewis to be behind the counter, the report states. Taylor then checked the cash register and saw there was money missing. He questioned Lewis, who acted funny, repeatedly said he didn't have any money, and patted his pockets, the report states.

The incident report states Taylor heard what "sounded like a gun" in Lewis' pocket. The subject then removed a black hand gun, put it on the ground, and began walking out of the office, according to the report.

When Taylor yelled at him to stop, Lewis began to run away, according to the report. Two Taylor Automotive employees ran after him. A witness got into his vehicle, drove after the subject, and caught up with him just as Lewis was getting into another vehicle, the report said. The witness detained Lewis until law enforcement arrived.

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